Rail fastener



May 25 1926.. 1,585,734

R, PRONINI RAIL FASTENER Filed Feb. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l '.F'gl.

f5 ig /77 Husum FFEJTVLTTL gnwfntz 551s M M C I d attorney? May 25 ,1926. 1,585,734

i v R. PRONlNi RAIL' FAsTENER Filed Feb. 18, 1926 2 sneenssheef 2 jg-7 ag. EEE.

E www En zal: FTDTL'Ln-L gwventoc CMX/@M iig'atented May 25, i925.

' ROCCO P RONINL- 'OE {SMITH RIVER, CALIFORNIA.

RAIL f-FASTENER.

applicationimearebmarys, ma serial No. .$9,200.

T his invention relates Vto improvements in rail tasteners.

The primary .object of ,this invention -is the provisionotl a .railfastener construction enibod ying .nieans whereby .to eficiently and durably, yet easily detachably connectrails upon a tie ortieplate.

A iturtherobject of this invention-zie the provision of an improved yrail fastenerconstruction, which embodies atie. plate having 'fasteners -inovably associated therewith 1. in a novel relation `torthe most `etiicient. rail connection.

A :turther object oftliis inventionis the provision of a rail fastener.. construction incurling a tie plate and Va fastener movably connected therewith for retaining arail in place on the tie plate, oynovel ineans includinn` anni'. ylock key.

A. further object of this inventionisthe provision ot a novel type of rail yfastener adaptedfto cooperate in la .novel relation,withl a spike .and tie plate, whereby lto hold the spike in y,rail retaining .position ...against liability ot accidental disconnection.

(')the-r objects .and advantages othis invention wiltbe apparent `dur-ing the course oiC the tolowing detailed description.

'ln the accompanying drawings, 'forming a part ot this specification,andwherein siniilar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the Asweral views,

Figure 1 is .a cross sectional View .taken thru a rail mounted .upona tie and tieplate, show-ing the injiproved.features of `the laS- tener tor supporting the railinposition.

Figure 2 is ,a :fragmentary plan View of a rail and tie, showing the novel fastening construction for, holding` the rail Iiii-.place on the tie` Figure 3 is a sectional view takensubstantially on the line S-Sof Figure 2.

Figure ,4l is a perspective lView otra: novel type of astenerusedywiththe ineansto hQld the rail in positioirufpon` a tie. ortie plate.

Figure is a cross-.sectional view. taken substantially onthe line ,of FigureQ.

Figure G lis a .fragmentary plan view, partly in section, sho.wing, .af rail supporting tie plate and the improved ineansor c0nnecting rail fasteners thereto.

lligure 7 is atop planyiew Iof the Viinproved tie plate `as a part of the'fastener construction. n

Figures 8 and 9 are topandbottoin plan nesting the .fthe -tie plate.

`upon a tie.

iews respectively, of a type ot' fastener as- ,.sociated with the tie plate.,

Figures 10 and 11 are top and bottoni plan viewsrespectively, oft acertain type ot tas .teneri-associated with the tie plate.

y lfigurel? is-a perspective view ci' afnovel Ytypeof key adapted to be used torgconfastener of Figures 8 and 9 on :Figure '13 is la perspective view or a` second j typeof key adapted to be yused for connectingthe type oit -tastener ot Figures 10 and l10n the tie plate.

inthe drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preterred embodiment ot the invention the letter generally designates the entire fastener 'construction need to niount and connect a rail The iastener construction A iay consist ot a tie plate D having slid-able fasteners or retainers E and lP associated therewith, and held in position aga-inst rela- `tive movement by ineans ot novel keys G and [l` respectively, at opposite sides ot the rail.

.The tie plate l) is oil? any approved Inaterial, and is preferably square. or rectangular in florin. `The rail B rests thereon, and tov oneside of the rail "iL-the tie plate Dis yprovided with a guide way 15 inwardly 'ot vthe top surface thereof, extending troni the side edge 1610i' the tie plate in right angled relation inwardly towards the rail'B. This guide way 15 isV provi-ded with oveinanging :flanges 17 at the longitudinal Aside thereof, providing side grooves which are adapted to slidably receive the guide anges 18 at the opposite sides ot thebody 19 ot the tas- 'tener l, which will be subsequently described. .At the inner end ofthe guide way 15 thertie' plate provides a tongue 21 proke slot 25 which extends inwardlv troni ,the top surface and terininatesshort of the bottoni-surfaceof the tie plate. At oppovsitesidesof the `vkey slot 25, recesses 26 are vprovidechbelow the top surface or' the tie Iplate,.to,provide retaining tianges 28 there fabove, beneath which the .lock lugs 29 of the fastener retainer may engage; the recesses 26 being formed to terminate in abrupt shoulders 28 transversely arranged with respect to the key slot 25, against which the lock lugs engage to limitl the rotational action of the keys E.

Referring to the construction of the fastener or retainer E, the same has been illustrated in detail in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, and it comprises the body 19, above mentioned, having the longitudinal reduced retaining guide flanges 18 at the side edges thereof, received in the grooves along the sides of the guide way 15. The body 19 is adapted to be slipped inwardly from the edge 16, and at its free end the sameis b1- furcated, to provide spaced fingers; the space 30 between said fingers being adapted to receive the extension 21 of the tie plate. Upon the top of the body 19 a rail base engaging and retaining flange 31 is provided, adapted to overhang the rail base, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, and to engage over the head of the spike 24; to retain the spike in position against accidental disconnection, when the fastener E is in place. The fastener E includes a laterally extending attaching flange 35, which is provided with a transverse key slot 36 therein adapted to align with the key slot 25 in order to receive therethrough the shank 37 and lock lugs 29 of the key E, as will be subsequently mentioned.

The shank 37 of the key E is of cylindrical formation and has the oppositely extending lock lugs 29 at the lower end thereof. At its upper end the shank 37 is provided with an enlarged externally screw threaded head 38, and above the head 38, integral therewith, is a polygonal shaped reduced wrench engaging head 39 by means of which to grasp the key with a tool in order to rotate the shank 37 and move the lock lugs 2.9 into or out of engaging relation in the recesses 26. In order to prevent disconnection of the key shank 37 when the same has the lock lugs 29 thereof below the retaining flanges 28, it is preferred to provide a lock nut 40, having a hollow internally screw threaded nut body for detachable adjustment upon the screw threaded head 38, and including an enlarged annularly extending base flange 41, for abutment against the top of the attaching flange 35, in order to clamp the key shank 37, and more particularly the lock lugs 29 thereof against the tie plate to hold the key against rotation, and in a locked position. The body of the nut 4-.0 is of course polygonal for wrench engagement.

The tie plate D at the opposite side of the rail B from the retainer or fastener E is provided with a guide way 50 inwardly of the top surface thereof, and extending parallel with the rail B, inwardly from the edge 51; this guide way 50 having retaining flanges 52 at the opposite side edges thereof beneath which grooves are provided for slidably receiving the guide flanges 53 of the body 54C of the fastener member F, to guide the same in a sliding action, to a movement parallel with the rail B. At the extreme inner end of the guide way 50 the tie plate D is provided with a transverse polygonal opening 55 therethrough, adapted to receive the shank 56 of a spike, the head 57 of which spike is adapted to be received in a corner re- "r Specifically the fastener or retainer meml' ber F includes the body 54 above mentioned,

having the guide flanges 53 at the side edges thereof. At the inner end of the body 54C, a laterally extending rail base engaging and retaining flange 65 is provided, which extends over the recess 5S, and engages over the spike head 57, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, to retain the same in place when the retainer F is mounted in the groove 50 of the tie plate D. Normally the body 54: may extend upwardly above the top surface of the tie plate D, but along one longitudinal edge thereof the same is recessed inwardly of the top surface to provide a shoulder 66, lying flush with the top surface of the tie plate D, and over which shoulder 66 the marginal portion of the rail base engages, to hold the retainer or fastener F in place against liability of arring loose or becoming disconnected. This relation of assembled parts is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, where the margin of the rail base is shown resting upon the shoulder 66.

The body 54 inwardly from the top surface thereof is provided with a key slot 68, which extends partially thru the thickness of the body, and with which key slot a recess 69 communicates; the recess 69 being formed within the body 54, and providing an abutment shoulder 71 against which the lock lug 72 of the shank 7 3 of the key H may abut, to limit the rotational movement of the key H. The body 5st is also provided with a circular opening which extends thru the bottom surface of the body 54, which is adapted to align with the socket opening 59 provided thru the tie plate D, for receiving the lower end of the shank 73 of the key H, in the relation illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The key I-I may be of various types, but is preferably of the type including the elongated shank 73 with the radially extending lock lug 72 between the ends thereof, which is adapted to enter the key slot 68 of the fastener F to be received within the inner recess 69, below a retainingllange 75 over said recess; the lock lug 72 being adapted to engage the inner shoulder 7l of the retainer l? to limit the key rotation. rlhe key H also has a head 79 upon the top of the shank f3, provided with a lateral attaching flange 80, which has a transverse opening therethrough, countersunk inwardly from the bottom surface of the flange 80. In this ropening is slidably mounted a retaining pin 82, which has an upper head adaptedffor abutment on the top of theflange 80 .and a countersunk lower head 83 adapted for reception in the conntersunk openinginorder that the head 83 at its `lower surface may lieflush with the under surface of the key `head 79 to permit the sliding ofthe key head. The pin 89 is adapted to be received in an opening 8J provided inwardly of the top surface of the body 54, to preventkey rotation, and to hold the fastener F in position against sliding in its guide way 50, and thus to hold the rail secured upon the tie plate, and tie plate upon the tie.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that a novel fastener construction for securing rails upon ties has been provided, which embodies a novel tie plate construction whereupon fasteners are secured at opposite sides of a rail, slidable into assembled relation both longitudinally and transversely of the rails, in order to effect the locking of the spikes of the rail in position; to of themselves hold the rails upon the tie plate; and to prevent relative disconnection of the fasteners with respect to the tie plate.

'Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made tothe form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

l claim l. ln a rail `'fastener the combination with a rail and a tio, a tie plate between the rail and tie, Asaid tie plate having a guide way therein at one side of the rail transversely of the rail and a second guide way therein at the opposite side of the rail longitudinally of the rail, and fastener devices slidable along said guide ways respectively transversely and longitudinally of the rail, said fasteners having retaining flanges thereon adapted to overlie the base of the rail to secure the rail in place.

ln a rail fastener the combination with a rail and a tie, a tie plate between the rail and tie, said tie plate having a guide way therein at one side of the rail transversely of the rail and a second guide way therein at the opposite side of the rail longitudinally of the rail, and fastener devices slidable along said guide ways respectively transversely and longitudinally of the rail, said fasteners having retaining flanges thereon adapted to overlie the base of the rail to secure the railin place, the guide way longitudinally of the rail Vbeing extended partially below the rail whereby the fastener for said guide way is overlapped by the base of the railto hold the said fastener against jarring movement.

il. ln a fastener construction for securing rails on ties the combination with a rail and a tie, a tie plate betweenthe rail and tie, said tie plate inwardly from one side edge thereof having a guide way recessed inwardly of the top surface transversely arranged with respect to the length of the rail, said tie-plate having overhanging flanges at op-A posite sides thereof into said guide way,a fastener slidable into said guide way transversely of the length of the rail, said fastener having a rail base engaging flange thereon to hold the flange upon the tieplate.

key means to hold the fastener in a locked second mentioned guide way having av laterally extending retaining flange engageable over the rail base to hold the rail in position, and key means for locking the second mentioned fastener in position against relative movement with respect to said Atie plate.

Ll. ln avrail fastener construction the coinbination of a tie plate, a fastener Inova-bly related to the tie plate havingl a. rail base engaging flange thereon, said tie plate having a'key slot therein, said fastener having an opening therein adapted for alignment with said key slot, and a key construction for locking the fastener on the tie plate including a shank with a locking lug for locking in said key slot and extending thru the opening of said fastener, said shank above the fastener having a screw threaded end, and a lock nut adjust-able on said screw threaded end of said shank for locking binding engagement against said fastener.

5. In rail fastener construction the combination of a tie plate having a key slot therein, a fastener having an opening therein adapted to align with the key slot, and a key for securing the fastener on the tie plate including a shank having a laterally extending locking project-ion thereon, the shank being adapted to extend thru the opening of the fastener and the key slot of the tie plate,

with the locking projection inV said key slot,

said shank at its upper end having an enlarged screw threaded head thereon `with a reduced polygonal shank above the screw threaded head, and a hollow lock nut adj ustable on the screw threaded head having an enlarged iiange adapted for abutment over the opening of the fastener whereby upon adjustment to engage the fastener and draw the lock lug into abutment with the tie plate to lock the key in place and hold the fastener in locked relation upon the tie plate.

6. In a rail fastener construction the combination of a tie plate having a key slot therein, a fastener having an opening therein adapted to align with the key slot, and a key for securing the fastener on the tie plate including a shank having a laterally extending locking projection thereon, the shank being adapted to extend thru the opening of the fastener and the key slot of the tie plate, `with the locking projection in said key slot, said shank at its upper end having an enlarged screw threaded head thereon with a reduced polygonal shank above the screw threaded head, and a hollow lock nut adjustable on the screw threaded head having an enlarged flange adapted for abutment over the opening of the fastener whereby upon adjustment to engage the fastener and dra-w the lock lug into abutment with the tie plate to lock the key in place and hold the fastener in locked relation upon the tie plate, said tie plate having a guide way therein laterally of the key slot for slidably receiving the fastener therein in order to align the key slot of the tieplate and opening of the fastener.

ln a rail fastener construction the combination with a rail and tie, a tie plate upon which the rail is adapted to rest, said tie plate parallel with the rail and inwardly from a longitudinal edge and the top surface of said tie plate having a groove eX- tending laterally of the base flange of said rail, said tie plate having an opening therein at the inner end of said groove, a spike thru said opening securing the rail base to the tie, and a fastener slidable in said groove having a retaining flange thereon adapted to overlie the spike and rail base flange to hold the rail in position.

8. In a rail fastener construction the combination with a rail and tie, a tie plate upon which the rail is adapted to rest, said tie plate parallel with the rail and inwardly from a longitudinal edge and the top surface of said tie plate having a groove e1:- tending laterally of the base flange of said rail, said tie plate having an opening therein at the inner end of said groove, a spike thru said opening securing the rail base to the tie, a fastener slidable in said groove having a retaining flange thereon adapted to overlie the spike and rail base flange to hold the rail in position, and a rotatable lock key connected With the fastener for locking the same against sliding i'noveinei'it with respect to the tie plate.

9. In a rail fastener construction the combination of a tie plate having a guide way therealong inwardly of the top surface and inwardly from a side edge thereof, said tie plate transversely therethrough and intersecting the guide way having an opening therethrough, a fastener having a laterally extending retaining fiange slidable in said guide way, said fastener having a key slot therein with an inner recess facing the key slot, and a locking key including a shank rotatably disposed in the key slot of the fastener and the opening of the tie plate to lock the tie plate and fastener against rela.- tve movement, said shank having a lockingprojection thereon adjustable into the recess ofthe fastener to lock the shank against movement transversely of the tie plate, and means to lock the shank in position against any rotational movement.

ROCCO PRONINL 

